formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Joshua 1:13

Remember serves as an “attention getter” for the words which follow; it is not to imply that the people had forgotten. In some languages this emphasis may be more effectively conveyed by rendering it as a separate sentence: “Remember! The LORD’s servant Moses told you….” Or the force of the word may be translated, “You know that….” In other languages a better impact may be conveyed without specific mention of the verb “remember,” as for example, “Moses, the servant of the LORD, promised you:….” It may be more natural to use direct discourse: “Remember that the LORD’s servant Moses told you, ‘The LORD your God will give you this land on the east side of the Jordan as your home.’ ”

In verse 13 Good News Translation, for clarity, includes on the east side of the Jordan, which in Hebrew comes in verse 14 (Revised Standard Version “the land … beyond the Jordan”). In biblical language “beyond the Jordan” is the east side, the point of reference being the land of Israel on the west side of the river. A literal rendering of “the land … beyond the Jordan” (Revised Standard Version) is misleading, for when these words are spoken the people of Israel are still on the east side of the Jordan; a literal translation would imply that “the other side” is the western side. Many languages have idiomatic expressions for the points on the compass, and consideration should be given to the appropriateness of using these in translation. It is possible even to translate without reference to the points on the compass, for example, “the land on this side of the Jordan.” It will have to be clear in the reader’s mind, however, that the people of Israel were east of the Jordan at the time Joshua addressed them.

As your home (Revised Standard Version “is providing you a place of rest”) translates the causative form of the Hebrew verb meaning “to settle down, to rest.” The idea is that of a place where they will live in security and peace; New English Bible “will grant you security here”; New American Bible “will permit you to settle.” Some languages have very specific terminology to denote “home” or “homeland” as it relates to a tribe or nation; for example, “land and water” or “village and yard.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 1:13

1:13a

Remember: The verb Remember does not imply that the Israelites had forgotten Moses’ command. Joshua reminded them of something they already knew.

Here are some ways to translate this wordː

You know
-or-
Do not forget

what Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you: The term what does not refer to a single word. It refers to all that Moses said to the Reubenites, the Gadites and half of the tribe of Manasseh when they asked for land to settle on the east side of the Jordan.

Moses the servant of the LORD: See the note on 1:1a for other ways to translate a similar phrase. Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Remember the command which Moses, Yahweh’s servant, gave you
-or-
Do not forget what Moses, Yahweh’s servant, told you
-or-
Remember how the Lord ’s servant Moses told you (Good News Translation)

when he said: The phrase when he said introduces what Moses said. This is direct speech. In some languages it may be more natural to report what Moses said using indirect speech.

1:13b

The LORD your God will give you rest: The sentence The LORD your God will give you rest indicates that Yahweh will give them a permanent place to live. It will be a place where they can live safely.

and He will give you this land: The clause give you this land further explains the clause “give you rest.” The “rest” that Yahweh will give them is the land they are about to enter. It may be more natural to combine the two expressions, for example:

Yahweh your God will provide this land for you, where you may live in safety

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Moses said, ‘Yahweh your God is giving you this land. It will be a place where you can make your homes and find rest.’
-or-
Moses said, ‘Yahweh your God will provide this land for you, a place where you may live in safety.’
-or-
Moses told you that the Lord your God would give you this land on the east side of the Jordan as your home. (Good News Translation)

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